Faced with a tight budget and an ever-increasing number of emergency calls, East Pierce Fire and Rescue commissioners voted unanimously on Jan. 19 to place an emergency medical services levy lid lift measure on the April 26 ballot.
Washington voters approved the EMS levy in 2011, allowing fire districts to tax 50 cents for every $1,000 in assessed property value.
The district wants the EMS levy lid to be lifted because taxpayers are no longer paying the full levy amount due to climbing property rates.
According to Washington Administrative Code 458-19-060, the EMS levy is subject to the same 1 percent growth limit as other property taxes, including the annual property tax that cities renew during the budget season.
However, property rates have risen faster than 1 percent every year, meaning the levy rate has been reduced accordingly to balance the equation and max out growth at 1 percent.
In 2015, the EMS levy rate was reduced to 46.3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, and was furthered lowered to 44.7 cents this year.
Lifting the levy lid will reset the levy to its full amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Home and land owners with a total of $250,000 in assessed property value will pay $1.25 more per month in property taxes, or $15 a year.
For every additional $100,000 in assessed value, taxpayers can expect to pay 50 cents more per month, or $6 more per year.